2lS 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE, 



April 



The Water Garden, 

 plants and planting. 



u n , pv ; ni1Q iv referred to the best methods of constructing various 



f V ^r^SffiK^ a lar K e and on a small scale, I will now 

 IS^^^A preparations for planting, and will also enumerate 

 ^^tSSS^ E case of water in the 

 a roniDirativcly small pond or stream would probably have to be dealt 

 ii^S^^paSi would naturally differ from those required for 

 water gardens on a bolder scale. As cemented ponds will seldom be 

 m£e^ deep, the best way to deal 



with these is to form (with rough dark stones) irregular f^ggQ^ 

 filled up with leaf mould, peat, loam, &c, to within a foot of the intended 

 surface of the water. Planted into these irregular submerged beds 

 aquatics of all descriptions will thrive far better than if merely sunk in 

 baskets or pots. Quite near the margin some of these beds might be 

 filled up, so that the surface of the soil is only four or six inches below the 

 surface of the water; these situations would be admirable for plants 

 loving to be only partially submerged like Typha minima, menyanthes, 

 the Hog-Arum, and others. Large ponds as well as small ones should, it 

 at all possible, be so constructed that by opening a valve the water can 

 be lowered at will, or even drained off altogether. This greatly facilitates 

 planting operations, and enables one to clean out a pond, or check the 

 growth of, or abolish, certain water plants. In the case of planting 

 waterlilies and other aquatics into large ponds it would be well to deposit 

 on the bottom of such a pond mounds of leafmould and loam, and, when 

 the plants are strong enough, to plant them into large wicker baskets and 

 place them on the mounds previously prepared, so that the crown of the 

 plant is about twelve to eighteen inches below the waterline. The wicker 

 basket will soon decay, but by that time the roots will have penetrated 

 into the good soil below and the plants will flourish as well as could be 

 desired, and will also soon be strong enough to withstand the ravages of 

 water-rats and other vermin. But if the plants are not strong and well 

 developed it would be advisable to grow them during the first season or 

 two in a small tank or basin, or if they must be planted into the large 

 pond to surround them with wire netting for protection. 



The arrangement of plants in the water garden must, of course, 

 depend entirely on circumstances, such as the number of plants available, 

 the size of the pond, stream, bog, or whatever form of water garden is 

 to be planted. The laying down of hard and fast rules for arranging 

 water plants is, of course, impossible. This is as much a matter of taste 

 as the painting of a picture. But the laws of colour and harmony that 

 apply to the artistic grouping of other ornamental plants are the same 

 here ; such grouping should never be conspicuous, and should appear 

 to be Nature's work rather than that of man. It has already been pointed 

 out that it would be absurd to cover the whole of the water with plants. 

 Irregular groups of flowering aquatics, such as water lilies, will be much 

 more effective than single specimens. Here and there the groups should 

 be separated by a comparatively large expanse of water, and near the 

 shore furthest away from the eye specimens or groups of tall growing 

 plants n.ay be introduced with good effect. 



The banks of a pond or streamlet are of even greater importance, with 

 regard to the arrangement of plants than the water itself. Nothing 

 could be worse than an uninterrupted fringe of plants around the whole 

 pond. However thickly we may plant the parts where the land projects 

 into the water, or where, at least, convex shorelines are formed, in some 

 portions, and especially in the concave parts of the bank where the water 

 would form a kind of bay, there should be grass only, mixed here and 

 there with groups of iris and such dwarf plants as would never form 

 an obstruction to the view. In other words, instead of a narrow belt of 

 plants all around a pond, the plants should in some parts be united into 

 large bold masses, in others sparsely scattered, and in still others there 

 should be nothing but the green sward. In the case of a bog-garden by 

 the waterside the best plan is to group the tallest plants at a considerable 

 distance from each other, and carpet the spaces between with groups of 

 dwarfer kinds. Whatever plants we may use for the embellishment of 

 the water garden our arrangement can be picturesque only if we follow 

 Nature, and import to our work something at least of that indescribable 

 wild charm, careless grace and simplicity found in and around natural 

 ponds and streamlets. I will not make any attempt to give anything like 

 a complete list of plants Tor the water garden, nor can I give any detailed 

 descriptions without exceeding my limits of space. I will, however, 

 enumerate some of the best, which from experience I have found most 

 suitable. 



By submerged plants are meant those which, when planted, would 

 have their crowns covered by not less than ten or twelve inches of water. 

 The very first rank among these must, of course, be given to the water- 

 lilies, and as most waterlilies increase so rapidly that they would, in a 

 short space of time, become too large for the small pond of a rock garden, 

 I will here, first of all, name a few of the smallest kinds, but it must be 

 understood that these might also be grown in larger ponds where they 

 would be well in sight and could be protected from fast-growing varieties. 

 In a like manner many of the plants here classed as "large waterlilies" 

 might with advantage adorn the small pond of a rock garden for at least 



several years until they become really too large, when they might be 

 either reduced or rnn^nhn^^ *~ ~ 4 



ler reduced or transplanted to a larger pond. 

 Exeter. & r 



F W. Meyer. 



E 



AND M 



ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, March 30. 



For once in a way the fates were kind, and the spring show at ReL*'. t> , 

 held during delightful spring weather. We sincerely hope that JRii ark 7* 



There . 



occasion 



fetes. 



R -B.S. offer 



inuecu, iuiwiu^iui S r™*T^**i " ia «* wuauer mat the 



prizes at all. Spring flowers were greatly in evidence. 



Competitive Exhibits. 



The first prize for a collection of hardy spring flowers was secured bv M t 

 S. Ware with pars of Primula obconica, P. verticillata, Muscari botryoideT 

 M. b. alba, Orchis pallens, Androsace carnea, Orphrys speculum, one of thi 

 orchids, chionodoxas of various kinds, Epigaea repens, Hepatica triloba c*niU 

 Trillium grandiflorum, Fntillaria Jmeleagris, hardy cyclamen, primroses « 

 fragas, adoDis, and a few other subjects all in flower. 1 



The St. George's Nursery Company secured the chief award for twelt* 

 cyclamen with handsome specimens in twenty-four sized pots. The first prize f« 

 hardy azaleas was secured by Messrs. Morle and Co., Finchley-road, with form 

 of A. mollis ; Mr. Kemp, Barnes, second. Mr. J. Mowbray, gardener to the 

 Hon. H. C. Legge, Slough, secured first prize for a dozen cinerarias with larze 

 specimens. For orchids Mr. G. Cragg, gardener to W. Walker, Esq., \Y lQC |. 

 more Hill, secured first place with Cattleya Shilleriana, Cypripedium Roth, 

 schildianum, Oncidium sarcodes, Ada aurantiaca, Cattleya Triance delicata, znd 

 Phaius grandifolius. Messrs. Morle and Co. were awarded a second prze for 

 hyacinths. 



The silver Daffodil Cup offered by Messrs. Barr and Son for the best collection 

 of cut daffodils, polyanthus forms excluded, was won by Mr. \V. J. Grant, 

 Bassaleg, Monmouth, with an interesting collection of about sixty varieties ; some 

 of the most notable forms were Glory of Leiden, Emperor, Johnstoni, Empress, 

 Sir Watkin, Figaro, Poeticus, Preecox grandiflorus, Albicans, W. J. Goldring, 

 Gloria Mundi, Mrs. Langtry, J. B. M. Camm, Odorus, Mrs. Walter Ware, Km 

 of the Netherlands, Backhousei, Katherine Spurrill, Horsfieldi, and Hume? 



Giant. 



Trade Exhibits. 



Messrs. B. S. Williams and Son, Holloway, were large exhibitors, staging t 

 fine batch of brilliant-flowered clivias, including the leading varieties. Forced 

 lilacs and Azalea mollis flanked a Hg group of amaryllis, the varieties Dr. Mask* 

 and Gerald Balfour being especially noteworthy. Orchids were well represented 

 by odontoglossums, ccelogynes, and specimens of the charming Phaius Norman. 

 Messrs. J. Lai ng and Son?, Forest Hill, had an extensive display of flower . 

 and foliage plants; Dracsena Goldieana, caladiums, Leea amabilis, boronitf, 

 cytisus, azaleas, clivias, acacias, yellow and white arums, heaths, tree phonics, 

 palms, and crotons, not forgetting some brilliant streptocarpus, combined to mile 

 up a good display. Clivias, Azalea mollis in vaiiety, spirceas, ericas, mignonette, 

 Primula obconica, and liliums were tastefully associated with ferns pain* 

 foliage begonias, and other useful and charming palms by Messrs. J. Teed and 

 Sons, Norwood. Mr. G. Keif, gardener to Mrs. Abbott, South \ ilia, kfgenti 

 Park, put up a large group of miscellaneous plants suitable fc r conservatory de- 

 corations ; deutzias, azaleas, tulips, lily of the valley, hyacinths, narcissi, die } u* 

 heaths, &c, were the principal subjects associated wnh palms ard ferns. Ncm 

 W. Cutbush and Sen, Highgate, had a c< .nspicuous group of acacia.*, chflims, 

 eriostemons, Magnolia Soulangeana, Richardia Klliottiana, Souvenir de li 1 Mil- 

 maison carnations, boronias, diosmas, &c. ; this was a most attractive exhibit 



A beautiful display of daffodils was arranged by Messrs. I arr and Son, UW* 

 Garden; Sir Watkin was well represented, and so were lh>rshd«li, W 

 Perfecjon, the new bicolor form named Victoria, princeps, L. J. 1W 

 rugulosus, Incomparabilis Stella, maximus, and tortuosus ; these were a « 

 blooms. In pots they had Horsfieldi, Emperor, Km press, \ ictoria. Ma*g 

 Hemp, Santa Maria, Grandis, J. B. M. Camm, Cernuus Golden Spur, 

 whole display was good and the flowers remarkably tine, ine dl uc V 



q;ard 



y-grown cyclamen repre- 

 senting a first-rate strain both as regards colour ana nabit ; a l ^g e J hltc . ^ 

 shown by this firm deserves a special mention for its size and *J 

 regiment of stalwart hyacinths from Messrs. W. Paul and Son Wahtam twj 

 secured a large share of the general admiration : the spikes new ! in** ; 

 and full, and the foliage dwarf, deep ^reen. and bright 5 there were spec j * 

 developments of Koh-i-noor, pink ; 



Grande*. 



white ; Jacques, blush ; and City of Haarlem, ^-..^^e ; ond erful mi 

 staged a group of fragrant roses, the leading v^ties be.ng t^ ^ ^ fa 



■uuiuuu tu mcsc uisplays a large camun \nother 



from Waltham Cross ; both plants and cut flowers were stagea. ^ ^ 



of cyclamen came from the Church Road Nursery Company, Man - ^ 



Alexai 



■J^VlUlbUiJ fTVAV IfVU ^1UV> II) I.HU 111V * • v*. r~~^ « 1 , " ^ % ^ 



its brightness. Narcissi, both cut and in pots, were targely ^, cn 

 Ware, Tottenham. Sir Watkin, Obvallaris, Grandis, »wn. j * af)i 

 fine new ajax form of rich yellow colour ; Empress, Maximus, apu . 

 Leedsi and Barri forms were shown in good condition. ^ ^Co, 



A handsome group of orchids was staged by Messrs. nus 



_ . >rcnias was si^- »j , 1 , te0 . Du rpureu 

 Enfield; it included some charming odontoglossums, 



t 



Dersingham. Mr. J»J^- — « |tf 



very good; Cymbidium eburneo-Lowianum, Dendrobium isoxw^ rf ^ 



Odontoglossum Edwardsi was conspicuous over all. une « in ij**r 



of cultivating them — Mr. 



T. Jannoch, uersiny..*"" *~" h ' to were 



)p ula! flower, and in «%£%£3» 

 to fourteen large, pure white, rray CattMa t* 



Messrs. W. Rumsey and Son, Waltham Cross, came in tor a 

 tion, and were greatly appreciated; Marechal Niei ■ • ' 

 largely represented. Messrs. B. S. Williams and Son, now 

 of daffodils, bouquets and crosses of roses, stocks, an 



share 



the valley 



chaplet of cycad foHage and white lilies was a simple _ and t Dai* 

 Mr. II. B. May sent a few ferns; ^P^^^^Sfieri. vSS^J^. 



maxima, and Gymnogramma Mayi, a su 



^ft »• a H. A A _ 



ngifolia 



can L ,S f5^.fc " E v ARMV * '"okeel upon one of the jn»vest crimes a soldier 

 At lWes of tWUn^f Z Pa f " 0ften punished with death. The fate of a battle and 



!wi^c^i^,t ofLh'^ ,f ^ a 'l M w MU "^ honour - have oflen dependent upon the 

 k rever it! mi ^^ ^med a trivial oHer. Discipline without good health, 



&^fi ^HliT *« h „ Ut a f0 »''«.-»ion : therefore great ^ains are taken\o keep our 



^r/Cr r l ° cle * n ^ in B »h« Wood, they invigorate and give tone to the wer e some of the sprays. 



S leading 



a rrargemeo»--^ 

 merest id the P 



Messrs. J. Laing and Sons had a large table ot nor jo he 



bouquets, sprays, and crosses ; the firm is taking a ±V tmen t of * ^ 



tion of these works of art, and have made » speoa^ ^ most saeeew* 



bouquet of roses and cross of red roses and white siuc 0 (dtap*^ 



The exhibit displayed a g jeat ™ ^ mo0tcCt 

 extensive exhibit of ferns from Messrs. J. »™ anu 



i 



